Dear Campus Community,

As you may know, for the past two and a half years, Puget Sound has endeavored to build a framework for evaluating and recommending changes to the names of buildings and spaces on campus in light of historical legacies that do not align with our values as an institution. As the latest part of that process, the Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to remove the name “Slater” from the Slater Museum of Natural History.

James R. Slater was a professor at the College of Puget Sound from 1919 to 1951. During his time in the biology department, he taught a eugenics course and was a proponent of involuntary sterilization, race-based hierarchies, and other views rooted in ableist, racist, and xenophobic attitudes—beliefs that are in direct contradiction to our commitment to diversity.

One of our alumni, Grace Eberhardt ’20, brought Slater’s history of eugenic teachings to the attention of the university in 2021, and subsequently submitted a formal request for the university to consider removing Slater’s name from the museum. In accordance with the Policy on the Reconsideration or Removal of Names on University Buildings and University Spaces, I appointed a committee to review Ms. Eberhardt’s request. In its final report, the committee found compelling evidence that the name “Slater” continues to cause harm to historically marginalized communities and, in particular, individuals who are neurodivergent and people of color.

In removing this name from the Museum of Natural History, we affirm that Puget Sound is a welcoming and inclusive space for all. Following the board’s decision, we will begin the process of updating the museum’s physical space and online presence. As the university moves forward in addressing its past, leadership will explore the creation of educational elements to inform museum visitors about this complicated history. 

Please join me in thanking the members of the Slater Museum Name Review Committee for their service:

  • Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, vice president for Institutional Equity and Diversity — co-chair
  • Victor Martin, vice president for University Relations — co-chair
  • Kevin Buchanan, assistant director for Student Involvement
  • Albert Chang-Yoo ’25, student
  • Sam Kigar, assistant professor, Department of Religion, Spirituality, and Society
  • Anne Melton, assistant director of University Relations Research
  • Lauren Moseman ’23, student
  • Lyle Quasim ’70, Hon.’05, trustee
  • Nani Vishwanath ’09, senior program manager for Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Innovation, REI
  • Stacey Weiss, professor and chair, Department of Biology
  • Lisa Woods, chief equity officer, City of Tacoma

While we cannot reverse the harm that has been done, I believe this is an important step toward the acknowledgment of some of our painful history. It is my sincere hope that this change will spur further discussion on campus about the values we hold as a community.

In gratitude,

Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. | President